The Grand Duchy of Stollen

Not much happening here in Stollen Central at the moment as I am suffering from a nasty head cold. With my rockstar life-style of the last several weeks, it was bound to happen sooner or later! However, Keith Flint has recently posted some pictures of his very nice RSM95 figures over at the Old School Wargaming Yahoo group. If you haven’t already done so, meander on over there and have a look. Just click on the following link: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/old_school_wargaming/ As far as the 18 th century and correctly proportioned figures are concerned, I think we are almost spoiled for choice these days. Let’s see, RSM, Minden , Tradition, Willie, Revell plastics, Holger Eriksson, Spencer Smith. . . Why, the list just goes on and on.

I just heard from my good friend, and fellow old school wargamer, Jonathan Broadus in North Carolina , who alerted me to the neat things going on over at Andy Mitchell’s Frivolous Fusiliers blog. Andy’s growing collection and recent Blasthof Bridge refight are so cool that I felt the need to put a link here. Click on http://frivolousfusiliers.blogspot.com/ to see how it’s done. I think you’ll agree that it’s the type of painting, collecting, and gaming to which we should all aspire. Well done Andy and Jim!

Helped by the fact that it’s unseasonably cold and rainy outside, so the backyard will have to wait until another day where leaf raking is concerned. That means -- hold on to your hats guys – I’m going to fire up the old paintbrush and apply a base coat of gesso to those RSM French musketeers sitting over on the painting desk in just a little while. Funny how something so mundane can, nevertheless, get the blood boiling and make the hair on the back of one’s neck stand to attention! Last night, the Grand Duchess and I had two couples, with whom we are friends, over for dinner and drinks yesterday evening, and it was a resounding success. Lots of good conversation and laughter along with my Algerian couscous recipe followed lots of fresh, strong coffee. Sonja and I slept in this morning and enjoyed a late breakfast at the dining table, during which we discussed the events of last night. In fact, I only just arrived here in Zum Stollenkeller a short while ago, and it’s just a...

Zum Stollenkeller A: The computer/writing desk, where hopefully I can begin getting back to the old school wargaming book project -- 1 or 2 hours of writing a day for 4-5 days a week, during the next several months. The painting/radio desk where the forces fighting for the Grand Duchy of Stollen and its arch enemy The Electorate of Zichenau take shape. The national flags and banners (blue and orange, emblazoned with a red lobster) are flying in Krankenstadt this morning! Finally, a few spare hours this morning to sit down and write a proper update for the Grand Duchy of Stollen blog. The Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II is enjoying an extra large cigar, brought to him a few moments ago by his valet ‘Hives’. In real life, my friend in British Columbia , Jeff Hudelson, was indeed correct when he mentioned this passed winter that it might take longer than I expected to get things up and running in the new house. Whew! We’ve been in the house three weeks as of today, and only now is it s...

Welcome back! Now, maybe things can get back to some sense of normality around here. Gentlemen, meet Herr General Karl Heinz von Dempfenpflug , a mercenary cavalry general, who comes from a long line of Baltic German landowners, who trace their lineage all the way back to the Brothers of the Sword. Currently, he is resting on his family estate somewhere in Livonia, weighing offers to accept cavalry commands from both the Grand Duchy of Stollen's Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II and the Electorate of Zichenau's Princess Antonia. Rumor has it that von Dempfenpflug can be had for the price of a cup of coffee and a really good doughnut. We shall see if this is indeed the case.

Hello everyone! Just a brief note from work to thank you all for your messages of encourgement and inquiry. The Grand Duchess and I are settling into the new and improved Stollen Central very well. . . with one notable exception. What should have been as simple as the telephone company throwing a switch to transfer our exisiting phone and interenet connection has turned into an ongoing pain in the you-know-what. After two days of calling (from the grand Duchess' office no less)and speaking with several different branches of Verizon, I was finally told that the earliest a service man could visit was next Wednesday April 16 -- ARGH!!! So, I've busied myself with unpacking, practicing my guitar, and setting up the painting desk in Der Stollenkeller. More on all of this, along with a few pictures, as soon as we are up and running. Stay tuned.